Tim Farrell/The Star-LedgerWill John MacLean be head coach of the Devils or their minor league team in Albany, N.Y.?

The Devils made a long overdue announcement today by finally acknowledging they will shift operations of their top minor league team from Lowell, Mass., to Albany, N.Y.

For the past four seasons the Devils have had their AHL affiliate in Lowell, but a rent increase prompted the move back to Albany, where the team had been located previously.

The American Hockey League team will be known as the Albany Devils and will play its home games at Times Union Center. The move has been approved by the AHL Board of Governors.

Previously, the Devils' minor league team in Albany was known as the River Rats.

The official announcement was made by Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello.

“We are all looking forward to bringing our AHL team back to the Capital Districtarea,” Lamoriello said. “The support we previously received from the fans in Albanywas tremendous.”

Lamoriello said Chris Lamoriello will remain GM of the minor league team and John MacLean is still the coach of the club in Albany.

"Everything is status quo with the coaching staff, as it stands," Lamoriello said.

MacLean remains a candidate for the vacant coaching job with the Devils in New Jersey. Other top candidates are Ken Hitchcock, Mike Haviland and Michel Therrien.

Times Union Center served as home ice for the organization’s AHL team for 13 seasons through 2005-06. The NHL Devils originally signed a working agreement with the AHL’s Capital District franchise on May 5, 1993. In 1994-95, the organization won both the NHL Stanley Cup/AHL Calder Cup Championships.

“We are very excited that Times Union Center will be the home of the Albany Devilsand we can continue our tradition of AHL hockey in Albany,” said Albany CountyExecutive Mike Breslin.

“We look forward to a long and successful relationship with the Devils and another Calder Cup in Albany. Our many enthusiastic hockey fans will bring great energy and excitement to the games.”

The Albany Devils sweater is red, black, and white, while its logo will feature a stylized “A,” with the organization’s familiar horns and tail.

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With July 1 approaching, Lamoriello said he will try to sign defenseman Paul Martin before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. But it seems more likely that Martin will test the market.

"We're going to do whatever we can to sign him," Lamoriello said.

The two sides have agreed that negotiations be suspended until a new coach is signed.